Government Approval Needed for Bangladeshi PSL Players

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has granted clearance for five of its national cricketers to participate in the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL), with a sixth player possibly joining. However, before finalising their travel, the board will seek formal approval from the government due to heightened security concerns following recent tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, according to Najmul Abedin, Director of Cricket Operations.

Abedin told reporters, “We have requested government approval. They have not yet responded. Under ordinary circumstances, this step would not be necessary. However, given the current situation, we need to ensure there is no risk to the players.”

The decision on whether the players can safely travel—and whether any city-specific restrictions apply—will ultimately rest with the government. At present, the following five cricketers have received clearance to participate in the PSL:

• Mustafizur Rahman
• Parvez Hossain
• Shariful Islam
• Nahid Rana
• Rishad Hossain

Discussions are also ongoing with Peshawar Zalmi regarding opener Tanzid Hasan, though his participation has not yet been confirmed. None of the players have been granted clearance for the full duration of the PSL, which is scheduled from 26 March to 3 May.

Simultaneously, Bangladesh is preparing to host New Zealand for a series starting 13 April, featuring three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). The series schedule is as follows:

To balance both PSL and international commitments, BCB has issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs) with staggered validity periods:

The staggered approach allows Bangladesh to field its strongest squad against New Zealand while enabling key players to participate in the PSL. Officials emphasise that final participation in Pakistan will depend on government clearance and continuous monitoring of the security situation.